How To Clear Google Play Store Purchase History

Google Play Store on smartphone stock photo 2

Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

The Google Play Store gets frequent updates, which is great news. The not-so-great news is that it can take weeks, or for some people even longer, to get the latest iteration. The basic functionality never changes so being stuck on an older version isn't all that bad. However, we understand the urge to get the latest and greatest version on your device.

Looking to update Google Play Store on your device? Here's how.

Step 1: Check your current version

The first thing you'll want to do is see which version you have to make sure you're downloading Google Play Store's latest version.

This can be done as follows:

Open your Google Play Store app.
Open the settings.
Scroll to the bottom. You'll find the "Play Store version" there.

Google Play Store: A definitive guide for beginners

How To

This is important because you don't want to install an older version of Google Play by accident. You also want to make sure you download a version that is compatible with your phone. That shouldn't be too much of a problem unless you're rocking some ancient version of Android like 2.3 Gingerbread — if that's the case, it's probably time to replace your phone!

Step 2: Download Google Play Store via an APK

It's a pretty self-explanatory step. The Google Play Store comes in APK format like any other Android app. You can download APKs from websites, tech blogs, and trusted people on forums or other places. However, for now, APKMirror is probably your best bet for trusted Google Play Store APKs. Here is a short tutorial for downloading the Play Store app:

Head to this link by clicking here.
Find the version of the Play Store you want. If you want a newer version, reference your current version and see if a new one is available.
Download the app by following the website's instructions.

There are some other places that have recent Play Store APKs uploaded. However, APKMirror is just easiest method and it's one that people generally trust. You shouldn't have problems getting it from there.

This prompt will show up on Android 8.0 and later. You must give individual apps the ability to install apps in newer versions of Android.

Step 3: Deal with security permissions

The Unknown Sources setting has been a part of Android for ages. When disabled, it prevents users (and other apps) from installing applications from anywhere aside from the Google Play Store. Android Oreo changed this to a per-app permission rather than a system setting. Thus, there are two different parts to this one.

Before Android Oreo:

Enter your device settings.
Go to "Security".
Find the Unknown Sources option and check the box. A warning will pop up which you should definitely read. Once done, hit "OK" and this will enable you to install APKs from Unknown Sources.

If Unknown Sources isn't in the Security settings, try finding it in the Privacy settings or Application (Apps) settings.

After Android Oreo:

Begin installation with a file browser or through the web browser.
Android will tell you that the app doesn't have permission to install APKs. Click the available Settings button in that prompt.
In the next menu, tick the box that lets that app install APKs.
Hit the back button to return to your installation.

It's a little more complicated, but the trade off is better security because the only app that can install third party APKs is the one you just gave permission to as opposed to the system-wide setting in previous versions of Android.

Step 4: Use a file manager and install the Google Play Store

Now that we're all set to go it's time to install this thing. Use your favorite file browser. For those who may not have one, you can see our recommendations here!

Open your file browser and navigate to wherever you downloaded the Google Play Store APK. If you downloaded it on your device then it will be on your SD card in the Downloads folder.
Once you find the APK, click on it. There may be a box that pops up depending on the apps you have installed on your device asking which app you want to use. If this is the case, click "Package Installer".
On the next screen, read over any permission changes (there usually aren't any) and then click install. When it's finished, the latest Google Play Store will be installed on your device.

Hey you did it! Wait, there is still one more step!

Step 5: Disable Unknown Sources

Leaving the Unknown Sources box checked is a major security hole that can cause problems down the road. The best way to keep yourself safe is to go back and turn that off! If you have Android Oreo or later, you are done and you can skip this step because these settings aren't in your phone anymore.

Pre-Android Oreo:

Go back into your device settings.
Go back into the Security settings, Privacy settings, or Application settings (wherever you found it last time).
Uncheck the box. This will prevent everything (except the Play Store) from installing apps. You can always re-check the box later if you need to do this again.

There's probably a reason they changed it in Android Oreo and this is probably it.

Android Oreo and later:

Head into the device settings and then tap on the Apps option.
Scroll and find the app you used to install the Play Store. It's usually the same browser you downloaded the Play Store with. Tap it.
On the next page, check over its permissions until you find the unknown sources section. Untick the box to remove the permission to install apps from outside of Google Play.
Please note – This process may change from phone to phone. Even stock Android is slightly different from Android Oreo to Android 11 when performing this task. If you can't find it initially, keep looking. You're not crazy, it's probably just in a slightly different spot.

A photo of Amazon's Appstore, one of the best third party app stores for Android

Photo of Google Chrome's warning for installing third party apps

You now know how to download Google Play Store to ensure you have the latest version. This method will work on almost any Android device, but there may be slight variances depending on your Android version and OEM. Do keep in mind that this will not work on Amazon Kindle Fire devices. That's an entirely different process which may also require you to root your device.